Airbus Scandal: SP Report Favors Mahama – Nana Ohene Ntow
Nana Ohene Ntow, a devout member of Alan Kyerematen’s campaign team, has waded into discussions regarding the revelations in the recent report by the Special Prosecutor absolving former President John Dramani Mahama from blame in connection of the Airbus scandal.
Airbus, an European aircraft manufacturer, was alleged to have paid bribes in Ghana in the sale of three military aircraft to the country.
The allegations came to light after a series of investigations and prosecutions of Airbus by the US, the UK and France authorities, compelling President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to refer the case to the Office of the Special Prosecutor for investigations.
Airbus, after almost 4 years of investigations by US, UK and France authorities, was fined $3.9 billion for its corrupt practices in Ghana, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Taiwan.
During the investigations, Mahama’s name popped up when Airbus was said to have bribed a high-profile figure in Ghana referred to as “Governor Official 1” in the documents.
When the issue came up and Mr. Mahama was identified by then Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, as “Governor Official 1”, he denied it but a recent report by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has found the former President and NDC flagbearer to be “Governor Official 1”.
The OSP, however cleared him of the corruption allegations, stressing “the OSP found no evidentiary basis that suggests that former President John Dramani Mahama or any other public official was induced to improperly favour or did improperly favour Airbus in respect of the purchase by the Government of Ghana of military transport aircraft from Airbus”.
“The Special Prosecutor has directed the closure of the OSP investigation into alleged bribery of high-ranking Ghanaian officials by Airbus SE, through intermediaries, in respect of the sale of military transport aircraft by Airbus SE to the Republic of Ghana between 2009 and 2015”, the OSP added.
Analyzing the matter during Peace FM’s “Kokrokoo” morning show, Nana Ohene Ntow opined that the Special Prosecutor’s clearance of Mahama’s involvement in the bribery scandal compliments the latter.
“I believe this report helps President Mahama because, in this campaign time, if this report has said conclusively that President Mahama has engaged in corrupt activity, it would have greatly affected him”, he told host Kwami Sefa Kayi.
Source: Ghmessenger.com
